The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides educational and leadership support to talented young people through a network of partner universities and organizations. Unlike a scholarship with one central application, the Foundation delivers the program through participating institutions, which manage their own application processes, requirements, and deadlines.
The program works through partner institutions rather than one universal scholarship application. You identify a participating partner that offers your intended level and program, then follow that institution’s application process.
The program currently supports secondary, undergraduate, and master’s-level study. It does not currently offer scholarships for PhD candidates.
What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global education initiative designed to help talented, service-oriented young people pursue higher education and develop their leadership potential. The program places particular emphasis on young people from underrepresented communities and on helping Scholars transition from education into meaningful work and leadership.
A defining feature of the program is its partner-based structure. The Mastercard Foundation works with universities and non-governmental organizations that implement the Scholars Program rather than handling every applicant’s admission and selection directly.
Because each partner manages its own process, available degree programs, eligibility requirements, application documents, and deadlines can differ. A program offered through one partner may therefore have different requirements from an opportunity offered through another.
Understanding this structure is essential before searching for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship application.
Who Is Eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
There is no single eligibility checklist that applies identically to every Mastercard Foundation partner. Requirements differ by institution, so applicants should check the specific criteria published by the partner university or organization they want to attend.
Being an African student does not automatically qualify you for every Mastercard Foundation opportunity. Each partner sets its own eligibility requirements, so applicants must check the criteria for the specific program they want to join.
At the broader program level, prospective Scholars are expected to demonstrate academic strength and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. The Foundation also emphasizes young people from underrepresented communities, including young women, refugees and forcibly displaced people, and people with disabilities.
For applicants, the practical question is not simply, “Am I eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?” It is:
Am I eligible for this specific Mastercard Foundation opportunity at this specific partner institution?
Before applying, check:
- Whether the institution is a current Mastercard Foundation partner
- Whether your intended degree or program is covered
- Whether you meet the partner’s academic requirements
- Whether you meet its nationality, residency, age, or other eligibility conditions
- Whether you can provide all required documents within the stated application period
What Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Cover?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides financial, academic, and psychosocial support to selected Scholars. Depending on the program, financial support can include tuition, accommodation, books and other academic materials, mentoring, counselling, leadership development, and a return air ticket to the Scholar’s country of origin when necessary.
The exact arrangement can vary by partner, so applicants should not assume that every Scholar receives an identical package. Check the current information published by the institution offering the opportunity before making financial or application decisions.
The program also goes beyond financial assistance. Its model includes support intended to help Scholars succeed academically, develop leadership skills, maintain their well-being, and transition into work after their studies.
What Levels of Study Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Support?
The program currently supports three broad levels of education:
| Study level | Available through the program? |
|---|---|
| Secondary education | Yes |
| Undergraduate study | Yes |
| Master’s study | Yes |
| PhD/doctoral study | No |
The specific degrees and fields available depend on the partner institution. Applicants should therefore confirm that their intended program is covered before applying.
How to Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program does not use one universal application form. Partner universities and organizations manage their own recruitment and selection processes, including their application requirements and deadlines.
A practical way to approach the process is:
- Find a Mastercard Foundation partner that offers your intended level and field of study.
- Review the partner’s eligibility requirements and confirm that you meet them.
- Check the partner’s application instructions for admission and scholarship consideration.
- Prepare the documents requested by that institution.
- Submit your application through the official channel specified by the partner.
- Complete any additional scholarship requirements if the partner provides separate instructions.
Depending on the institution, scholarship consideration may be incorporated into the admission process or handled through additional instructions. The partner’s current application guidance should therefore take precedence over information published on third-party scholarship websites.
If the partner requires a separate university application, our guide to How to Apply to Universities Abroad walks you through the application process.
Where Can You Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
The Mastercard Foundation maintains a current Where to Apply resource listing its partner institutions. Applications are submitted directly through the affiliated institution the applicant wishes to attend.
Rather than relying on an old university list, start with the Foundation’s current partner information and then visit the institution’s official website. Check that the partner currently offers a Mastercard Foundation opportunity at your intended study level and that your chosen program is eligible.
This matters because being a Mastercard Foundation partner does not mean that every institution offers the same programs or accepts applications at the same time.
Official partner information: Mastercard Foundation — Where to Apply
Can You Study in the USA Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
Yes. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has partner institutions outside Africa, including institutions in the United States. However, it is not a general U.S. scholarship that allows applicants to choose any American university. Your options depend on the current partner institutions and programs.
For example, the Foundation currently lists Arizona State University as a U.S. partner with a postgraduate Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program opportunity.
If you want to study in the United States, identify the current U.S. partner opportunities first. Then check whether the specific institution offers your intended degree and whether you meet its requirements.
The same principle applies elsewhere: the existence of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program does not mean that every university in a particular country participates.
Is There a Single Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Deadline?
No. There is no single deadline for every Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program opportunity.
Each partner institution sets its own application timeline. Applicants should therefore check the deadline published by the specific partner they want to attend.
Be cautious when a third-party website presents one date as the Mastercard Foundation scholarship deadline without identifying the partner and application cycle.
Does Admission to a Partner University Guarantee the Scholarship?
No.
Admission to a partner institution and selection as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar are not the same thing. The partner institution manages the application and decision-making process for the Scholars Program.
Meeting a university’s admission requirements therefore does not automatically mean that you will receive Mastercard Foundation funding.
Before applying, check the partner’s instructions carefully to understand how admission and scholarship consideration are handled.
Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Have an Application Fee?
The Mastercard Foundation does not solicit payments from individuals for the Scholars Program. The Foundation has warned about social-media posts advertising recruitment and requesting application fees, stating that such groups are not associated with it.
However, a partner institution may have its own legitimate admission fee. Partner institutions set their own admission fees, and applicants should verify any payment directly with the institution before paying.
The Foundation states that, for schools that require an application fee as part of the admissions process, the fee will be reimbursed if the applicant is selected for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Do not send money to an individual, unofficial account, or social-media contact claiming they can secure a Mastercard Foundation scholarship for you.
For a broader guide to checking scholarship opportunities, see our article on How to Find Legitimate Scholarships Online: A Practical Verification Guide.
Common Mistakes Mastercard Foundation Applicants Should Avoid
1. Relying on outdated partner information
A university may have participated in the program previously while offering a different opportunity in the current application cycle. Always check the Foundation’s current partner information and the institution’s latest scholarship page.
2. Assuming a partner offers your intended program
Being a Mastercard Foundation partner does not mean every degree or field at that institution is covered. Confirm that your intended program falls within the current Scholars Program opportunity before preparing your application.
3. Applying through unofficial contacts
Avoid anyone who claims they can secure a Mastercard Foundation scholarship for you through a personal contact, social-media group, or payment. Use the Foundation’s partner listings and the institution’s official website to identify the legitimate application route.
Some application errors are avoidable regardless of the scholarship. Our guide to Scholarship Application Mistakes covers common problems that can weaken an otherwise eligible application.
How to Verify a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Opportunity
Before submitting an application, use this simple verification process:
- Confirm the partner: Check the institution against the Foundation’s current partner information.
- Verify the program: Make sure the partner offers your intended degree and field through the Scholars Program.
- Check the requirements: Review the partner’s current eligibility criteria instead of relying only on third-party listings.
- Confirm the deadline: Use the application date published by the partner for the relevant cycle.
- Follow the official application route: Submit your application through the channel the institution identifies.
- Verify payment requests: If the institution charges an admission fee, confirm the payment details directly with the institution.
Following these steps gives you a clearer way to verify an opportunity before you invest time or money in an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program fully funded?
The program provides substantial financial, academic, and psychosocial support. Depending on the partner and program, this support can include tuition, accommodation, academic materials, mentoring, counselling, leadership development, and travel support where necessary. Each partner determines the specific support package, so check the institution’s current information before applying.
Can Nigerian students apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
Nigerian students may qualify for opportunities offered by Mastercard Foundation partner institutions, but nationality alone does not guarantee eligibility. Each partner sets its own eligibility requirements, so applicants must meet the criteria for the specific program they want to join.
The Mastercard Foundation also works with partner institutions in Nigeria, including Pan-Atlantic University. Nigerian applicants can therefore explore opportunities available through participating institutions in the country.
Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program fund Master’s degrees?
Yes. The current Scholars Program supports master’s-level study, although the available programs and eligibility requirements depend on the partner institution.
Can I use the Mastercard Foundation scholarship to study in the USA?
Potentially, if you apply through a participating U.S. partner offering an eligible program. The program does not provide general funding for any U.S. university, so applicants must verify the current partner opportunities and program requirements.
Conclusion
The most important thing to understand about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is that there is no single application experience. Your available program, eligibility requirements, deadline, and application procedure depend on the partner institution you choose.
Start by identifying a current Mastercard Foundation partner that offers your intended level and field of study. Then verify the partner’s requirements, funding information, deadline, and application instructions directly with the institution.
Taking that approach helps you determine whether a particular Mastercard Foundation opportunity fits your circumstances while reducing the risk of relying on outdated information or unofficial scholarship offers.
